The New Committee for Security Training Reform
The National Economic Council (NEC) has appointed Dr. Peter Mbah, the governor of Enugu State, to lead a new committee tasked with overhauling all institutions for the training of security agencies across Nigeria. This decision came after the NEC endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s proposal for a comprehensive reform of security training facilities nationwide. The proposal was presented during the 152nd NEC meeting held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. The committee also includes governors Uba Sani (Kaduna), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Kefas Agbu (Taraba), Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom), Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), and Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa). Former Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, will serve as the secretary.
President Tinubu emphasized the urgency of this assignment, stating, “We have to make the conditions of the training facilities more conducive for both the trainers and trainees.” According to Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State, who briefed the press, the Mbah-led committee has just one month to submit a detailed blueprint for the renovation and modernization of police and other security training institutions.
A Major Shift in Leadership
Only a few days ago, the president relieved the service chiefs of their assignments and appointed new ones, demonstrating a renewed effort to reinvigorate the security of lives and property. Mbah’s new assignment, which came just a day or two before this major development, places him at the center of Tinubu’s renewed effort to strengthen Nigeria’s internal security architecture through institutional reform, improved training conditions, and enhanced capacity development for security personnel.
This move is a demonstration of confidence in Mbah’s leadership qualities by Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, and the NEC. It also affirms his achievements in the security of lives and property within less than 29 months in office. His appointment did not come as a surprise to those who have followed developments in Enugu since he took charge at the Lion Building, as the office of the Enugu State Governor is known.
Recognition from High Places
On October 4, 2024, Vice President Shettima visited Enugu to commission the Enugu State Garment and Fashion Hub and unveil the 5th Expanded National Micro, Small, and Medium Scale Enterprises (MSME) Clinics. Both are collaborative efforts between the Federal Government and Enugu to boost MSMEs in the state. During his visit, Shettima toured some of the infrastructural projects by the Mbah administration, including the Command and Control security infrastructure built by the governor from scratch in just over a year in office.
Shettima praised Mbah’s efforts, stating, “If I say I was impressed by what I saw in Enugu, it is an understatement. I was overwhelmed by the giant strides recorded by Governor Mbah and his team. He has embraced modernity. He has embraced digital technology. Most of the things I saw are avant-garde technologies, state-of-the-art security infrastructure.”
Technological Advancements in Enugu
The Enugu Command and Control Centre, adjudged by many security experts as the biggest and most modern one in the country, is the endpoint of many fibre optic cables laid across the state and connected to AI-embedded cameras for effective surveillance. The cameras are capable of face and number plate recognition, among others. The security vehicles are manned by the Distress Response Squared (DRS), a special police unit, and are equipped with AI-enabled cameras. DRS operatives wear bodycams while on duty to ensure proper monitoring.
On January 4, 2025, President Tinubu inaugurated some of the projects accomplished by Mbah in one year and six months, including the Command and Control Centre and over 150 security vehicles. Tinubu commended Mbah, saying, “He is doing a fantastic job. I am glad that Enugu got a very good tomorrow, today. I salute Peter Mbah for his commitment to development.”
Acknowledgment from the National Security Adviser
Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser, acknowledged Mbah’s impact on security in Enugu. During the commissioning of the reconstructed Economic and Financial Crimes Commission South East zonal office in Enugu on December 19, 2023, Ribadu stated, “Before the coming of this administration, police stations were being attacked, law enforcement personnel were being attacked. People were giving selfish orders.”
Reforms in Security Training
The push for the revamp of all institutions for the training of security agencies is part of a well-thought-out plan to improve security sector infrastructure and manpower. In 2013, Channels TV aired a damning report on the inhuman state of the Police Training College in Ikeja, Lagos. A Punch newspaper report highlighted the deteriorating conditions of the college, with students urinating in broken drainage systems and poor electricity supply.
Under the Tinubu administration, changes are happening. Earlier this October, the President assented to the Nigeria Police Training Institutions Establishment Bill, 2024, providing statutory backing for 48 police training institutions across the country. These include Police Colleges, Police Training Schools, and other specialized institutions.
A Promising Future
With this initiative, Nigerians expect positive results that will change the narrative in the quality of training and facilities for security agencies. The committee, led by Governor Mbah, is well-positioned to drive these reforms, given his demonstrated success in combating insecurity and investing in modern security infrastructure. The future looks promising for Nigeria’s security sector.
